...ctiveness of the author. Without any necessity whatsoever, he repeats the same thing many times over. Perhaps to a certain degree the author can be excused on the grounds that he was writing his book without intending to turn it into a textbook. However, on p. VIII of the preface the author speaks of seeing the merit of his book in the popular exposition of scientific questions. He is right. But popular exposition also requires the elimination of repetitions. The "people" have no time to read large books. Mr. Ermanski's book is excessively large, and without any necessity. This impedes its popularity...

Written in September, after the 10th, 1922.
First published in 1928
in Lenin Collection VIII

Printed from the manuscript
* The manuscript breaks off here. Ed.
208
LETTER TO I. V. STALIN FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b) ON THE REJECTION OF A TREATY WITH L. URQUHART
12/IX.

Comrade Stalin!

Having read Krasin's treaty with Urquhart, I declare myself against its ratification. Promising us income in two or three years, Urquhart is taking money from us now. This is absolutely inadmissible. Mikhailov, chairman of the commission, who specially traveled to study Urquhart's concession on site, has proved that we are not guilty of the destruction, but rather—

I propose rejecting this concession.

This is vassalage and robbery.

I remind you of Mikhailov's commission conclusion. It was against the concession.

Not a single serious argument has been added. It must be rejected.

I ask you to bring this to the attention of the members of the Politburo.

With communist greetings, V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

P.S. This is a trick—claiming that this concession will not be a precedent.

It certainly and inevitably will be a precedent. In fact, it will inevitably develop this way regardless of any words or assurances.

And generally all that was uncovered by Mikhailov's commission has been absolutely disregarded.

Lenin

Written 12 September 1922
First published in 1959
in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript
209